Shipper s refrigerator



No. 624,|65. l Patented my 2, |899.

J. o. BowmsH.

sHlPPr-:ns REFmGERATon.

(Application filed Oct. 1, 1898.-)

(No Model.)

gmail" i ll l-lll Brion.

ATENT JAMES O. BOWDISII, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SHIPPRS REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersyPatent No. 624,165, dated May 2, 1899.

Application filed October l, 1898.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES O. BoWDIsH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Shippers Refrigerator; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference-numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a portable refrigerator for use by transportation and express companies and intended to protect and preserve d urin g transitshipments of perishable goods, like meat, fish, oysters, milk, rbc. .i Itis to be used where the quantity of the articles to be shipped is limited and not suiicient to Warrant the use of a refrigerating-'car. After use it may be removed from the car and the space utilized otherwise. Itprovides interchangeable supporting means suitable to be used when either solid or liquid goods are to be shipped. rlhe inclosing box` is constructed in a manner to give quick, convenient, and complete access to the Whole interior at once and to the goods therein to permit them to be either packed or removed, all in compliance With eXigencies as they may arise in view of the special purpose intendedto Wit, the quick and convenient handling of various classes of goods, as required by a transportation company. What has been said in regard to ready access to the interior and goods therein applies also to the ice-recepta cles, which must be capable of being reached With equal facility for the purpose of charg- Serial No. 692,386. (No model.) i

use, parts, and'construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the refrigerator. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the saine, taken near the top of it. Figs. 3 and 4t are vertical sections, the iirst a longitudinal one, the other a cross-section.

The refrigerator is substantially box or trunk shaped and provided with suitable handles 6 to permit convenient carrying and handlin g. The inclosin g Walls are shown so1id,but are to be constructed on any of the approved methods used in refrigerating Work, so as to render the interior of the box secure by insulating the same against the eifects of changes of temperature. The whole interior is to be lined with zinc or galvanized iron to prevent the moisture and melt-water from coming in contact with the Walls of the boX. Top 7 and front side 8 are hingedly secured and when open permit convenient and ready access to the Whole interior from above as Well as'from the front. Their free edges come together at the upper front edge of the box, and suitable fastening and catch-devices 9 are provided thereat to hold them together to close the box. The ice in small pieces is received by removable narroiv tanks l0 ll l1, which are of a height equaling about the height inside of the boX. Tank lO rests close to the rear wall,while tanks ll l1 rest close against the ends, all being kept from actual contact, however, by strips l2 and cleats 13 below, on which they rest, so as to permit circulation and contact of the air inside of the box with all sides of the ice-tanks. Tank lO fits closely between tanks 11, thus holding these latter in position. The bottoms of the tanks are provided with perforations le to permit the melt-Water to ing them. The goods, as Well as the ice, are protected in a manner that only a limited quantity of the latter is required, while at the same time by certain features of construction and arrangement its effective refrigerating capacity is greatly increased. Proper provision is made to prevent the melt-Water from coming in contact with thegoods to be shipped and for its discharge.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claim, is found a full description of the invention, its manner of drain on, which escapes into the lower part of the box, from which it may be drawn off from time to time through an outlet-opening l5, which is ordinarily kept closed by a plug or other suitable device.

The space between the tanks is used to receive the goods to be shipped. For liquid or soft goods, like milk, oysters, duc., cans 16 are provided, supported on a frame 17, which is recessed, as shown at 1S, Within which recesses these cans rest.

an additional frame 19, provided with open Near the top there is TOO spaces, within Which these cans tit and Whereby they are prevented from swaying'or tipping. These frames are supported on notched posts 21, resting in metallic sockets 22, which are soldered to the box ioor and keep the water away from the lower ends of these posts. The upper ends of these latter are connected and held in position by cross-pieces 23. Vhen the box is to be used for shipping solid goods, like meat, fruit,- dac., then they are supported on open shelves 24, formed of racks and supported on the notches of posts 21. These posts thus serve in either case,

and their notches permit adjustment of thev height, respectively, of spaces between these shelves-as Well as between frames 17 and 19.

Strips of rubber or other soft material may be interposed between the doors and between doors and edges of box to render the-joints air-tight.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- A refrigerator for preserving; perishable goods during shipment, consisting substantially of a box having three sides of its interior, to Wit: its rear side and the two ends lined with ice-tanks, the tank on the rear side being closely fitted between the tanks at the ends, thereby holding them in place, a frame consisting of posts erected in the space between the ice-tanks, means carried b v these posts for supporting the contents of the refrigerator, the top of the latter being hinged to the upper edge of the rear side of the box and the front side being hinged to the front edge of the bottom of the latter and means for locking the hinged top to the hinged front side, said locking means carried by these parts so that on releaseof them top and front side may be openedtogether, thereby giving access to the interior of the refrigerator at once from above-and from the front.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES O. BOI/VDISH.

Witnesses:

O. SPENGEL, ROSE BAERLO. y 

